Device for weaving a linked item and a pack of pliable material for use in weaving the linked item

ABSTRACT

A portable device for weaving an item from a pliable member. The device includes a support frame defining a weaving area and having upper and lower surfaces, and a holder positionable on the support frame, adjacent the weaving area, and accessible from at least the upper surface of the support frame for releasably holding the pliable member across the weaving area. The holder includes first and second releasable holding members. The first and second holding members are spaced apart by the weaving area for holding the pliable member across the weaving area. In another aspect, the invention is directed to a pack of pliable material for weaving an item including at least two pliable members interconnected by a web.

The present invention relates to a device for weaving an item and a pliable material for use in weaving the item, for example particularly, but not exclusively, a wearable item.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Looms used to weave colorful rubber bands into bracelets are known. The weaving of bracelets becomes a popular pastime targeting at children. A recent and popular one would be the Rainbow Loom®. Loose rubber bands are sold in packs. The rubber bands are tangled inside the pack making them difficult to retrieve. Too much pressure on the packs will cause the packing to burst.

Conventionally looms are used to weave strings into linked items. The relatively long loose strings are even more prompt to tangle than the rubber bands.

Looms are usually not portable. They are machines with the basic purpose to hold the wrap threads under tension to facilitate the interweaving of the weft threads. The shape of the loom may vary but the size is usually taller than a seated-human.

The invention seeks to eliminate or at least to mitigate such shortcomings for more fun by providing a new or otherwise improved device for weaving a linked item and pliable material arranged in an improved and novel manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a portable device for weaving an item from a pliable member, comprising: a support frame defining a weaving area and having upper and lower surfaces, and a holder positioning on the support frame adjacent the weaving area and accessible from at least the upper surface of the support frame for releasably holding said pliable member across the weaving area, wherein the holder includes first and second releasable holding members, the holding members are set apart by the weaving area for holding said pliable member across the weaving area.

Preferably, the first holding member is provided on the upper surface of the support frame and the second holding member extends across the upper and lower surfaces.

More preferably, the lower surface of the support frame is provided with a releasable attachment means for releasably attaching the support frame on a support surface.

Advantageously, the weaving area comprises an aperture that extends through the upper and lower surfaces of the support frame.

More advantageously, the support frame comprises upper and lower frame parts each having a through hole, upon assembling the upper and lower frame parts to form the frame structure, the through holes align to form the aperture.

Preferably, the first holding member comprises a projection with a periphery over which said pliable member runs.

More preferably, the first holding member includes a retainer for retaining said pliable member on the periphery of the projection.

Yet more preferably the retainer is moveable between open and closed positions and the projection includes a free end closeable by the retainer which is moved to the closed position to thereby retain the pliable member on the periphery of the projection.

It is preferable that the retainer is resiliently biased to the closed position.

Preferably, the second holding member comprises a gripper with first and second gripping members which are moveable relatively between open and closed positions.

More preferably, the gripping members, at the closed position, are spaced apart by a gap which increases in magnitude when the gripping members move to the opened position.

Yet more preferably, the gripping members are resiliently biased to the closed position.

Advantageously, the gripping members are resiliently biased to the closed position by an inherent resilience of the first gripping member and movable to the open position by deformation of the first gripping member.

More advantageously, the first and second holding members are provided at opposite end portions of the support frame, which defines a first axis, and the gripping members of the second holding member are movable between the open and closed positions along a second axis traverse to the first axis.

It is advantageous that the first gripping member is situated in a seat to restrict its relative position therein, and wherein the seat is pre-formed in one of the upper and lower frame parts of the frame structure.

Preferably, the first gripping member is an L-shaped formation.

More preferably, L-shaped formation includes a free end for engaging a surface of the second gripping member.

Yet more preferably, the free end of the L-shaped formation extends beyond a side of the seat for engaging the surface of the second gripping member.

Advantageously, second holder member includes at least two, first and second grippers.

More advantageously the first gripping member of the first and second grippers are situated in respective seats in the frame structure, a part of the first gripping member of the first gripper extends beyond a side of the seat in which it is situated, and the second gripping member of the first gripper comprises a side of the seat in which the first gripping member of the second gripper is situated.

Preferably, the first and second gripping members are situated in the upper part of the frame structure.

More preferably, the releasable attachment means comprises a suction cup.

It is preferable that the support frame forms a handgrip.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a pack of pliable members for use with the device as mentioned above for weaving an item comprising at least two pliable members interconnected by a web.

Preferably, the web is breakable by sheering force for separating two pliable members from one another.

More preferably, the web is formed integrally with the at least two pliable members.

Advantageously, the pliable members and the web are shaped by one-step moulding.

More advantageously, the pliable member is elastic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device with pliable members spreading across a weaving area in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4a and 4b are the side views of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6a to 6c are illustrative drawings showing the holders on the device for holding the pliable members across the weaving area;

FIG. 7a is a top plan view of the device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7b is a sectional view of the device in FIG. 7a along line B-B;

FIG. 7c is an enlarged sectional view of the device in FIG. 7a along line D-D;

FIG. 8a is a top plan view of a pack of six pliable members for use with the device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8b is a top plan view of the pack in FIG. 8a with the pliable members being partly separated from the pack showing a web connecting two consecutive pliable members;

FIG. 8c is a sectional view of the pack in FIG. 8a taken along line A-A, with each pliable member having a circular cross-sectional shape;

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a pack of two pliable members for use with the device in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9B is a sectional view of the pack in FIG. 9A, with each pliable member having a hexagonal cross-sectional shape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7 of the drawings, there is shown a portable device 100 for weaving, knitting or plaiting a wearable item such as a bracelet out of one or more pliable members 200 each in the form of a strap or string.

The portable device 100 is best show in FIG. 5 which is an exploded view thereof. The device 100 is preferably a two-part frame structure enclosing an aperture 101. An upper part 102 defines an upper surface 102 a and a lower part 103 defines a lower surface 103 a of the frame structure 100. The upper and lower frame parts 102 and 103 are assembled together and secured in place by screws, adhesive or any conventional means. A number of features in the device 100 are sandwiched between the two frame parts 102 and 103 and held in position once the two frame parts 102 and 103 are secured together. In the manufacturing procedure, this offers a simple and quick one-step solution in securing the relative positions of a number of features.

The aperture 101 in the form of a large central hole in the device 100 defines a weaving, knitting or plaiting area for the user's fingers to manipulate the pliable members 200. The aperture 101 is formed by respective apertures 102 c and 103 b on the upper and lower frame parts 102 and 103. This aperture 101 makes knitting easier by providing access to the straps or strings 200 from above and below the device 100. It accommodates the hand of the user allowing the user to grip onto the frame which becomes a handle for easy manipulation of the device 100. There are two holders 104 and 105 positioned on the upper surface 102 a of the frame structure adjacent the aperture 101 for maintaining or tensioning the strap or string 200 across the aperture 101. These holders 104 and 105 are preferably positioned on the frame structure opposite to each other defining a first axis.

In the preferred embodiment, the holder 104 is provided on the upper surface 102 a. It is in the form of a clip with two seats 104 a, 104 b and a titled cover 104 c pivotally set on the two seats 104 a and 104 b. The tilted cover 104 c is pivotably connected to the two seats 104 a and 104 b by respective pivot shafts. The tilted cover 104 c is moveable between open and closed positions. A resilient biasing means, preferably a spring, is attached to the shafts for biasing the tiled cover 104 c in the closed position as shown in FIG. 5.

The holder 104 may further include one or more projections 106 projecting underneath the tilted cover 104 c. These projections 106 are formed on and extended traversely from a platform. The projections 106 are preferably integrally formed on the platform as one piece. The platform is secured in position between the upper and lower frame parts 102 and 103 of the frame structure while the projections extends beyond the first surface 102 a through one or more opening 102 b thereon. A seat is defined in an interior of the lower frame part 103 in which the platform sits. The upper frame part 102 has corresponding structures which functions with the seat in the lower part 103 to confine the relative position of the platform therein, hence the projections 106 in the frame structure. Once the upper and lower frame parts 102 and 103 are secured, the platform and the projections 106 are held in position. In the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 5, there are 5 projections 106 spaced apart from one another by a slot or gap.

When the tilted cover 104 c is at the closed position, it closes off free ends of the projections 106 to retain the strap or string 200 on a periphery of the projection 106 in use. End surfaces of the free ends of the projections 106 are slanted to match with an inner side of the tilted cover 104 c in the closed position.

In an alternative embodiment, the holder 104 may include only the projections 106 which may be provided with features such as a groove to retain the straps or strings 200 looped onto the periphery of the projection 106. This prevents the strap or string 200 from slipping off the projection 106 in a direction parallel to that in which the projection 106 extends.

The holder 105 is accessible through the upper surface 102 a. As shown in this embodiment, the holder 105 extends across the upper and lower surfaces 102 a and 103 a. The holder 105 includes seven grippers 105. Each gripper 105 includes a pair of gripping members 105 a and 105 b between which one or more strap or string 200 is insertable. The gripping members 105 a and 105 b are moveable relatively between a closed position and an open position along a second axis traverse to the first axis. To grip the strap or string 200, the gripping members 105 a and 105 b are moved to a closed position. In the preferred embodiment, the gripping members 105 a and 105 b are resiliently biased to the closed position by the inherent resilience of the gripping member 105 a. Alternatively, a resilient biasing means such as a spring may be used to maintain the gripping members 105 a and 105 b in the closed position. More specifically, a surface of the gripping member 105 a pushes against a surface of the gripping member 105 b to sandwich between them a strap or string 200 upon insertion. The gripping member 105 a is made of a material more resilient or deformable relative to the material from which the gripping member 105 b is made of.

Referring again to FIG. 5, seats 103 c are defined in the interior of the upper part 102 of the frame structure at its extreme end. The seven gripping members 105 a are linked together by a connection bar 105 a-1. Preferably, the connection bar 105 a-1 along with the gripping members 105 a are formed in one piece e.g. by moulding. Two retainers 105 a-2 in the form of rings on either end of connection bar 105 a-1 are looped onto respective projections 102 d projecting from the interior of the upper part 102 and each gripping member 105 a are placed into their respective seats 102 c for being retained in the interior of the upper frame part 102. Each gripping member 105 a protrudes beyond an opening 102 c-1 on a first side surface of the respective seats 103 b to interact with the gripping member 105 b. Preferably the gripping member 105 a is an L-shaped member with a free end 105 a-3 protruding beyond respective openings 102 c-1 on the seats.

In the preferred embodiment, there are at least two, first and second, grippers 105. The free end 105 a-3 of the L-shaped gripping member 105 a of the first gripper 105 protrudes beyond the opening 102 c-1 on a side of the seat 103 b in which the gripper member 105 a of the first gripper 105 sits. The free end 105 a-3 interacts with a side of the seat 103 b, the gripping member 105 b, in which the gripping member 105 a of the second gripper 105 sits.

The gripping member 105 b of a last gripper 105 includes a side surface of an end seat 102 c′ without a gripping member 105 a.

Referring to FIGS. 6a to 6c , in operation the tilted cover 104 c is moved to its opened position revealing the projections 106. A bundle of straps or strings 200 are held together with a ringed end. The ringed end is looped onto at least one of the projections 106. The ringed end run over the periphery of the projection 106. The tilted cover 104 c is then allowed to be biased to the closed position closing the free end of the projections 106. The ringed end of the bundle 200 is thereby retained on the periphery of the projection 106. Free end of the individual straps or strings 200 are individually inserted into respective grippers 105. The gripping member 105 a is pushed into the seat 103 through the opening 102 c-1 when the strap or string 200 is inserted between the gripping members 105 a and 105 b. In a relaxed state as in FIG. 5, the relative positions between the connection bar 105 a-1 and the respective gripping members 105 a defines a defaulted position. They have the tendency to remain in the defaulted positions. The inherent resilience of the gripping member 105 a and the connection bar 105 a-1 pushes the gripping member 105 a through the opening 102 c-1, hence the gripper 105 towards its closed position.

Alternatively, the gripping member 105 a or 105 b may be resiliently deformable or being biased to the closed position by a spring.

To weave, at least one of the straps or strings 200 is removed from the gripper 105 and be placed onto the other straps or strings 200 which remain tensioned by the holders 104 and 105.

A releasable attachment means in the form of a suction cup 107 is provided on an underside of the lower part 103 for anchoring the device onto a surface such as a table surface that supports the device 100. The suction cup 107 is releasably attached to the lower part 103 by conventional means. In an alternative embodiment, the suction cup 107 may be replaced by other releasable attachment means which makes use of friction to retain the device on the surface. Releasable attachments means such as hooks may be used.

Turning to FIGS. 8a to 8c , in the preferred embodiment, the straps or strings 200 are formed in a pack of six. In another embodiment, the pack may be made up of any number of straps or strings 200, for example a pack of two as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. Two adjacent straps or strings are connected or held together by a web 201. The pack is preferably formed by extrusion. The web is dimensioned and made to be torn by sheering force. In other words, each strap or string in the pack can be separated by sheering or peeling as shown in FIG. 8b . The straps or strings 200 and the web 201 may be made from a single type of material. As shown in FIG. 8c , the straps or strings 200 may have unified circular cross-section take along line A-A traverse to length of the straps or strings 200. The straps or strings 200 may have other cross-sectional shapes. In an alternative embodiment, the straps or strings 200 may have a hexagonal cross-section as show in FIGS. 9A and 9B. The cross-sectional shape of the straps or strings 200 may be varied.

As the straps or strings 200 are held together in a pack, their relative position is basically fixed. They will not tangle. Also the compactness allows transportation at lower cost by taking up less space.

The invention has been given by way of example only, and various other modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiment may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims. 

1. A portable device for weaving an item from a pliable member, comprising: a support frame defining a weaving area and having upper and lower surfaces, and a holder positionable on the support frame, adjacent the weaving area, and accessible from at least the upper surface of the support frame for releasably holding the pliable member across the weaving area, wherein the holder includes first and second holding members that are releasable, and the first and second holding members are spaced apart by the weaving area for holding the pliable member across the weaving area.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first holding member is located on the upper surface of the support frame, and the second holding member extends across the upper and lower surfaces.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower surface of the support frame includes releasable attachment means for releasably attaching the support frame on a support surface.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weaving area comprises an aperture that extends through the upper and lower surfaces of the support frame.
 5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the support frame comprises upper and lower frame parts, each of the upper and lower frame parts has a through hole, upon assembling the upper and lower frame parts to form the support frame, and the through holes align to form the aperture.
 6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first holding member comprises a projection with a periphery over which the pliable member passes.
 7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first holding member includes a retainer for retaining the pliable member on the periphery of the projection.
 8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the retainer is moveable between open and closed positions, and the projection includes a free end closeable by the retainer and which is moved to the closed position to retain the pliable member on the periphery of the projection.
 9. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the retainer is resiliently biased toward the closed position.
 10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second holding member comprises a gripper with first and second gripping members which are moveable, relatively, between open and closed positions.
 11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first and second gripping members, at the closed position, are spaced apart by a gap which increases in magnitude when the first and second gripping members move to the open position.
 12. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first and second gripping members are resiliently biased toward the closed position.
 13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first and second gripping members are resiliently biased toward the closed position by inherent resilience of the first gripping member and are movable to the open position by deformation of the first gripping member.
 14. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first and second holding members are located at opposite end portions of the support frame, which defines a first axis, and the first and second gripping members of the second holding member are movable between the open and closed positions along a second axis which is transverse to the first axis.
 15. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first gripping member is situated in a seat restricting positioning of the first gripping member, and the seat is located in a part of the support frame.
 16. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first gripping member has an L-shape.
 17. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the L-shape includes a free end for engaging a surface of the second gripping member.
 18. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first gripping member is situated in a seat restricting positioning of the first gripping member, and the free end of the L-shaped formation extends beyond a side of the seat for engaging the surface of the second gripping member.
 19. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second holding member includes at least first and second grippers.
 20. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first and second gripping members are situated in respective seats in the support frame, a part of the first gripping member extends beyond a side of the seat in which the first gripping member is situated, and the second gripping member comprises a side of the seat in which the first gripping member is situated.
 21. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first and second gripping members are situated in an upper part of the support frame.
 22. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the releasable attachment means comprises a suction cup.
 23. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support frame provides a handgrip.
 24. A pack of pliable members for use with the device as claimed in claim 1 for weaving an item comprising at least two pliable members interconnected by a web.
 25. The pack as claimed in claim 24, wherein the web is breakable by a shearing force separating two pliable members from one another.
 26. The pack as claimed in claim 24, wherein the web integrally includes the at least two pliable members.
 27. The pack as claimed in claim 26, wherein the pliable members and the web are shaped by one-step moulding.
 28. The pack as claimed in claim 24, wherein the item is elastic. 